Below 40% of 45+ vaccinated: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong

CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Government has expressed concern over the low percentage of people in the over 45 year age group getting themselves vaccinated.

"For this particular age group we are yet to reach even 40 per cent. It is only around 37-38 per cent," Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong informed reporters after the review meeting on the Covid situation in the state.Tynsong asked the citizens to decide individually whether to get themselves vaccinated or not and be safe from the virus.

When asked what could be the reason for the low turnout of the persons getting themselves vaccinated, the Deputy Chief Minister said that this could be due to the fact that there are viral posts spreading superstitions against the vaccine in the social media.

"We have instructed the Health department to aggressively campaign and convince the public to get themselves vaccinated," he said.

Tynsong also informed that the State government will soon receive the 42000 vaccines to inoculate the 18-44 year age group.

The Deputy Chief Minister informed that the vaccination drive for this age group will start from May 14.

"The vulnerable districts will be earmarked more vaccines," Tynsong informed.

He also informed that the government is ready with 400 additional beds exclusively for Covid patients.

Tynsong informed that 300 beds are in IIM, Shillong at Nongthymmai and another 100 at TB Hospital Umsawli.

"Out of the 300 beds in the IIM Shillong, 100 will be with concentrators and of the 100 beds in Umsawli 40 will be with concentrators," the Deputy Chief Minister added.

The state on Wednesday recorded eight new Covid deaths, 406 new infections and 314 recovered from the virus.

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